With how hectic our lifestyles can get these days, it’s important to take time to kick back, relax, and re-center ourselves once in awhile. It can be as simple as going for a walk in the park, attending yoga or meditation class, or just visiting a local cafe. Bonus points if it has a pampering salon within it—like A Taste of Yi Cafe at Bandar Puteri Puchong.

A Taste of Yi is located on the first floor of a commercial shop lot, just above Brilliant Nasi Lemak House. I’ve passed by it several times, but never thought to venture upstairs until recently, when my Mom told me that there’s a cafe here with a hair/beauty salon in it.

The space is spacious and cozy, spruced up with lots of tasteful art decorations and paintings. Apparently they conduct painting sessions and art workshops here on select weekends, so you’ll find art materials and canvases littering the space.

The salon is located next to the dining area, separated by a cleverly designed bookshelf. If you’re worried about hygiene, fret not: only wash and blow sessions are available, so you won’t have hair flying all over the place. They also provide manicure and pedicure services.

The space was surprisingly empty during our visit, despite it being high time for lunch. Not that our anti-social selves had anything to complain about. If you’re looking for a cozy, quiet space to work, this is it. Staff members are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, and can recommend you the specials of the day. The menu is a fusion of Asian favourites such as rice and noodles, as well as Western dishes like pasta and croissants. You can view the full menu here.

N got the Lemongrass Pork Chop Rice, which came in a generous portion, featured a huge mound of rice topped with a fried egg and a gigantic slab of juicy pork. It was well marinated, savoury, and flavourful, the lemongrass having permeated and tenderized the meat. No complaints here!

I went for their signature Prawn Noodles, which also came in a large portion and was chock full of ingredients including chashu (thinly sliced Japanese-style roast pork), sizable shrimps, egg, and vegetables.

For the uninitiated, prawn noodles are a Penang specialty, with the broth made from shrimp stock. One should indulge in moderation if they don’t want their cholesterol level to rocket off the charts, as the stock often incorporates the creamy roe from prawn heads, as well as the shells. The version at A Taste of Yi is good: the soup is rich with the naturally sweet taste of seafood, and the addition of sambal and chili lends it a spicy kick. I upgraded to ramen noodles from the regular yellow mee, but in hindsight I think I could have saved on a couple of bucks, as they weren’t particularly special.

The cafe also carries desserts like cakes and chocolate drinks — perfect for tea time.

Overall, we enjoyed the food, as it tastes homemade rather than commercial; and the ambience is cozy and intimate. Prices are slightly steep, but not exorbitant. If you’re looking for a nice spot to chill (or somewhere to hangout after a pampering pedicure), consider A Taste of Yi. 🙂

A TASTE OF YI CAFE

2,-1, Jalan Puteri 1/2, Bandar Puteri, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Opening hours: 10.30AM – 6PM (closed Mondays)

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